"Doubts over EU president's start date
Doubts over EU president's start date
Bloc's first full-time president may not be able to start work as planned on January 1 next year, because of delays in ratifying the Lisbon treaty that creates the job, according to EU diplomatsEU rethinks biofuels guidelines
The EU's environment chief admits it did not foresee the problems raised by its policy of boosting biofuels use.French love affair with Sarkozy is fading
Amid a high-profile romance with Italian supermodel Carla Bruni, the French president is facing tough questions and slipping in public opinion polls.Sarkozy steals thunder of rivals
The president's talent for destabilising rivals by stealing their ideas, symbols and supporters pushes far-right leader Le Pen to put his party's headquarters up for saleEurope and Sarkozy's policy of civilization Gila BENMAYOR
Illegal migrants stream through Schengen zone
Illegal migration and people-trafficking from eastern Europe into Germany has risen sharply since the removal of Schengen border controls last month, with many would-be migrants originating from ChechnyaDivorce reform sparks EU quarrel
European Commission proposals to simplify divorce in the EU are running into opposition from governments fearful that the initiative may oblige their courts to enforce foreign laws that clash with their tolerant social normsNew U.S. president won't fulfill all Europe's desires The Europeans may be clutching at straws if they expect new leadership in the White House to herald a fundamental shift in the trans-Atlantic relationship.
Restructuring and Employment in the EU: The Impact of Globalisation Eurofound This 117-page report provides perspectives on the effects of trade liberalisation on the European labour market
Employment Protection Reforms, Employment and the Incidence of Temporary Jobs in Europe
IZA This 47-page discussion paper investigates the impact of reform of employment protection systems in Europe on employment and temporary jobs
Housing and Integration of Migrants in Europe Eurofound
This 112-page report presents successful practices and strategies for integrating migrants into local communities
EU opens new antitrust probe against Microsoft
The European Commission has initiated two new investigations against Microsoft, which is suspected of abusing its dominant position by tying a range of software, including the browser Internet Explorer, to its dominant Windows operating system and refusing to make its products interoperable with those developed by competitors.Brown: 'EU membership good for Britain'
Speaking to business leaders in London, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown underlined the need for a stronger European engagement in order to secure trade, business and jobs, ahead of what will prove a difficult battle over the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty in Britain.Beyond the 'Bali roadmap'
The climate talks held in Bali at the end of last year brought a major breakthrough in terms of a "gradual wakening up" to the trade aspects of climate change as well as many other areas, writes Cristian Egenhofer for the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).Blair speech sparks EU presidency speculation
Tony Blair has set out his vision for the future of European democracy as speculation mounts over the identity of the first president of the EU, set to be inaugurated in 2009.Google-DoubleClick merger brings EU into uncharted territory
The proposed acquisition of online advertising company DoubleClick by Google, the Internet search giant, raises a host of privacy concerns that make the merger more than a mere competition case, legal experts have said.Europe and Sarkozy's policy of civilization
Gila BENMAYORAmericans and Europeans Raised in Prejudice and Ignorance
A new round in transatlantic bashing: Denis, a French expat in the US, writes in SuperFrenchie:
They may call each others moonbats and wingnuts, but whether they're sporting long hair or military haircuts, Americans by and large all agree on this: America is the greatest country in the world, the American way of doing things is the only possible one, and everybody supports the troops. They learn that in schools from the earliest age, along with the fact that everything else (and everywhere else) is, by definition, flawed. And that's if they're taught anything about other places at all. History of the world in high school, for example, is a 2-semester optional course! Geography manuals do not exist. Innocent until proven guilty, to them, is a uniquely American concept.
Is there too much Coverage of the US Presidential Election in Europe?
The US caucuses and primaries are making the political headlines in Europe as well as in the United States. Also many European blogs – including this one – report and comment in great detail on the American election process.
IHT Europe can't agree on anti-dumping rulesAcknowledging differences of opinion in the EU, the EU trade commissioner, Peter Mandelson, said plans to change rules had been shelved and warned that a lack of clarity in the current system was hurting business.
EU emission limits may drive industries out of Europe European commission will set out new laws to impose swingeing limits on greenhouse gas emissions
Muslims must do more to integrate, says poll
A majority of Britons believe that Muslims need to do
more to integrate into society and want tighter restrictions on immigration
EU and the Capitals of Culture - a confusing picture
Tonight is the launch of Liverpool 2008 - European Capital of Culture (Wikipedia page). But how much is the EU actually involved in the European Capitals of Culture? The picture is at best extremely opaque. Let’s get a few things straight. The idea of capitals of culture dates from a Council decision in 1985, and the EU is involved in setting the rotation of countries where the Capital of Culture will be located - and this includes Norway and Turkey (and, eventually I presume Croatia, Macedonia?) The countries themselves, as far as I can determine, work out which city they themselves are going to nominate - so DCMS went for Liverpool.
Public broadcasters under the EU competition microscope
The State of the Citizen's European Union
Nanne Zwagerman of the European Tribune criticizes the European Commission's list of 2007 achievements. Being relatively low on the radar the EC does need to advertise itself, but hopefully they will have a little more to boast about next year, says Atlantic Review's guest columnist:
The Comeback Continent By: Paul Krugman | The New York Times
The next time a politician tries to scare you with the European bogeyman, bear this in mind: Europe’s economy is doing O.K.
Mardell's Euroblog
Will asylum seekers react to Europe's borders coming down?
NYT: Europe and U.S. Diverge on Rate Prospects - by Mark Landler
Claves para desbloquear Kosovo
Tradición del comic belga al servicio de la visión amable de un producto muy rentable: el gallo valón y el león flamenco, espalda contra espalda, pero juntos
El artículo que sigue a continuación fue recientemente publicado en "El País", sección Opinión. Se incluye aquí una versión un poco más extensa (las normas editoriales del periódico obligaban a recortar palabras) y algunas citas o referencias que no figuran en la versión editada
France grows weary with the Sarkozy soap opera Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni make it clear that they care nothing for what anyone thinks, including Tony Blair
DOSSIER: What to do with young criminals | 15/01/2008
DOSSIER: Croatia moves toward EU entry | 14/01/2008
Croatia has a new government. The coalition, under Ivo Sanader of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), includes numerous representatives of ethnic minorities, in addition to the Social Liberal and Croatian Peasant parties. Sanader is aiming for NATO entry and EU membership in his second term. What are the chances of success?
Germany is embroiled in debate about how to respond to youth criminality. The topic occupies many European countries: are tougher sentences the answer, or do youth need more support?
